Shori

From L5r: Legend of the Five Rings

Please note: This article is about the Lion Clan Ancestral Sword. For other uses of the term, please see Shori (disambiguation).

The Lion Clan's ancestral sword, Shori, is an ancient weapon once used by Akodo himself. When Akodo swore neverending fealty to the Imperial line, he declared that he would never raise his sword unless it was for the Emperor. It is for this reason that the Hantei family were the keepers of the sword.

The Emperor occasionally called upon Akodo's oath and declared war on other powers in the Empire. At these times, the Lion Clan Champion was summoned into the court, and Shori was returned to him. This oath symbolizes the heart of the Lion: "Duty to the Emperor, Duty to the Empire."

The blade is unremarkable, shining dull in the light. Its hilt was carved of jade and wrapped with brass and gold wire. Its tsuba bore the simple carving of a fine palace.

[edit] The First Sword of the Lion

Nearly a thousand years ago, a sword was comissioned by the Emperor. The sword was made of gold and fine jewels and was gifted to Akodo. The sword is said to be the keenest ever created, and it possesed legendary beauty. Akodo weilded the sword against the hordes of Fu Leng when they first attacked Otosan Uchi, and he carried it throughout the ensuing war.

Akodo took every opportunity to engage his fallen brother during the war, but the oni were quick to sweep him away. Fu Leng knew that if he faced his brother in combat, he could be slain; he commanded his minons to keep them apart. On one occasion, however, his followers were not fast enough, and Akodo dealt his brother a terrible wound.

After the first Day of Thunder, Akodo was called upon to hand down his sword to his heir, but he refused, saying, "This sword has drawn my brother's blood. A sword which has drawn family blood cannot be revered." With these words, he broke the blade beneth his heel, and took up the simple katana he had used before.

This simple sword became Shori, the Ancestral Sword of the Lion Clan.

[edit] The Loss of the Sword

Until 1132, The Akodo family sword was kept on a simply ebony stand next to that of the Hantei family's. When Amaterasu ordered that the Ancestral Swords be scattered among the heavens as retribution for the death of Onnotangu, Shori was taken from Ningen-do and placed in Tengoku.

[edit] References

Way of the Lion Pages 25 & 26.

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